10 - Processing of a Highly Purified Grade of Gum Arabic From Gum Dust

Abstract

Gum Arabic (Acacia) has received the status as one of the main commercial plants known frequently in food and pharmaceutical industries. This study aims to preparation of a highly purified grade of gum Arabic from gum dust and to develop a process for the purification of gum dust. Gum dust was investigated to evaluate physicochemical properties and microbial loads. The moisture content of samples ranged between 6.17% and 10.17%, specific rotation of purified samples from −28.0 to 20.5 degrees, and ash content from 2.84% to 3.16%, but ash content of crude gum dust was 8.68%. Also, the total nitrogen content (crude protein) was recorded at 0.22%–0.3% (1.38%–2.01%), respectively. Crude fiber ranged from 1.38% to 2.01%, whereas heavy metal (HM) was between 18.66 and 21.25 mg/kg. The samples resulted in a slight acidic nature (pH from 4.86 to 4.88), the relative viscosity of the purified samples of high quality. The color is still far beyond that of good commercial grades of color [0.119 optical density (OD) at 85 nm]. The results were noticeable that samples were free from bacteria, yeasts, molds, pathogenic bacteria, coliform, and Salmonella spp.